K98 High Turret build

[Miller Tyme]

Decided to build me a K98 HT sniper late last summer and finally got all the parts together this past spring and sent it off to my gunsmith to be built. Its a BYF44, L block K98k in a white glue laminated stock. The mounts are a set of Robert Spielaur High Turret and the scope is a wartime Ajack 4x90 I picked up from a friend on Gboards. The gunsmith bedded the stock , tuned the action, and even did a wartime "sloppy" solder job on the Mounts, just like the late war HT's are known for.

I had it to the range right after it came in but with the issues getting ammo I just shot surplus through it to get the feel for it. Well I finally got me some PPU 200gr FMJBT match ammo, along with some reloads from a buddy and got some range time late yesterday evening.

The HT doesn't seem to care for the PPU ammo much, but the Hand Loads are another story!

Guess I am going to be reloading 8mm in the future

 

[Hetzer]

The lack of 8mm bullet choices is a bit discouraging. Nice rifle though!

 

[Flint62a1]

Beautiful rifle!! Try the sierra 175 gr spitzer bullet
I use it over IMR 4895 both my K98’s love it
I also shoot the hornady 196 hpbt over rel 17 another excellent load.
Good luck with the rifle!

 

[Hetzer]

Flint...do you mind sharing what you're using as a charge for RE17? I was looking at it in QL. Sometimes QL makes me wonder.

 

[Random Guy]

Nice looking build. Does the scope have a year date on it? Just curious.
Good luck with the handloads.

 

[Miller Tyme]

No year on it, s/n dates it to late 1944

 

[eicas]

I just started gathering items to start reloading 8mm. While my K98k is nowhere near the pedigree of yours, it’s a solid shooter for an older (mid 90’s) RC when the prices weren’t so nuts. I decided to drag it out of the dusty area of the safe the other week and give it another go. I’ve got a bit more edumicated on the finer points of reloading and shooting since the days when it was first purchased. It seems to like the PPU Match quite a bit. The pic is from 100yds with a scout scope setup. I figure I can do as good or better rolling my own. I stopped at Titan for a set of dies, and ordered some PPU brass and bullets up from Graf’s. The 198gr PPU has a BC of .510 according to their website. I have plenty of RL15, RL17, and Varget. I’m sure I can drum up something that will fly decent. Keep us posted on your reloading, and I’ll do the same.

 

[Bigfatcock]

Benchmark is my favorite powder for the 8mm. I sure do miss the Nosler ballistic tip 8mm bullets.

 

[eicas]

Oddly, I’ve never got anything from Nosler to fly worth a hoot. Caliber doesn’t matter.

 

[Flint62a1]

Flint...do you mind sharing what you're using as a charge for RE17? I was looking at it in QL. Sometimes QL makes me wonder.

I used 50 grs of rel 17, it’s a fairly stiff load. I also used 4064 46 gr with a 200 gr hpbt. The 175’s ran with 47.5 gr IMR 4895

 

[ZG47A]

Benchmark is my favorite powder for the 8mm. I sure do miss the Nosler ballistic tip 8mm bullets.

I have some BM2 (Benchmark to Yanks) but have never used it in my 8x57. Which bullet weights are you using?